Tuition and Uncertain Economic Times
Brett King, RMCA Headmaster
“Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice. Human culture has always had to exist under the shadow of something infinitely more important than itself. If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would have never begun. We are mistaken when we compare war with ‘normal life.’ Life has never been normal. ” C.S. Lewis, 1939.
We live in uncertain times. Just read the headlines. Watch the television news. Many are worried about what might happen in the economy. And some wonder about what a change in national leadership might bring. Yet as C.S. Lewis points out in the quote above, feelings of ambiguity about the future have actually been the “normal” state of affairs for much of history.
Some of you might be questioning whether or not the time is right for continuing to give your children the gift of a classical and Christian education. But as C.S. Lewis so wisely points out, the time will never be quite right. Most of us will never feel like we have enough money. Most of us will face troublesome inconveniences. And most of us will wonder if the investment of time and resources is really worth it. Investing is never easy, and the payoff is rarely immediate.
But our children’s education is one of the most important investments we will ever make. We may be able to survive a downturn in the economy, but it will be harder to survive the loss of our children’s hearts and minds. Wise cultural observers have stated that a generation may have already been lost. We cannot lose another. God has given us a window of opportunity to bring our children up in the “training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) If we fail at that task, the consequences are not only grave for our children, but also dire for our future. The window of opportunity we have with our children will never open again.
The lessons of history are clear. When the generations that follow us turn their hearts from the Lord and cease from the labor of seeking truth, goodness, and beauty in favor of a life of leisure and utility, a cultural collapse is not far off. Yet I believe that we do not have to see that collapse. God has always used a faithful remnant to bring about his redemptive purposes—even in difficult times.
This is why Rocky Mountain Christian Academy exists. We understand that we get one chance at educating our students well. There are no “do-overs.” We therefore strive to provide our students the best possible classical and Christian education with the resources God has provided. Stewarding the lives of children and the tuition paid by our families is serious business.
RMCA’s school board assesses tuition rates soberly and carefully. In setting next year’s rates, they were keenly aware of our economic times. They also had their eye on the future. Their job is not just to ensure that the school is performing well now, but that it is positioned to touch the lives of students for years to come.
In light of this awesome responsibility, the board chose to raise the 2009-10 tuition rates for three primary reasons: (1) They anticipate a steep rise in operational costs. They want the school to be in a position to be proactive rather than reactive when those increases occur. (2) They desire to maintain RMCA’s financial strength in a “soft” market. The school is and will remain in a solid position to weather difficult economic times. (3) The increase is part of a broader strategic plan to have tuition reflect the actual cost of providing an exemplary education.
It is the board’s desire that a tuition increase not force any family to leave RMCA. As a result, they are committed to establishing a fund to help qualifying families bridge the gap between this year’s rates and next. I couldn’t be more in agreement with that plan! The administration has put a system in place to objectively assess a family’s financial need and help as many families as we possibly can.
In time, the economy will recover. As Christians, we are given the gift of hope—even in the face of adversity. We know that this earthly kingdom is not our final destination. We were created for something far greater than we can even now imagine. But what we do and how we do it in this life does matter in the next. That is why we must not postpone our search for knowledge and beauty until more favorable conditions come. Nor can we waver in our pledge to seek first the Kingdom of God. What we plant in the heart of a child now will reap fruit in due season.
